Oct 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6), BA Dual Certification Program in


Adjunct Instructor Fischbach, Adviser, 516-463-4799

Undergraduate Teacher Preparation for Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)


The undergraduate dual certification program in early childhood education and childhood education leads toward New York state initial teacher certification, valid for early childhood education (birth-grade 2) and childhood education (grades 1-6). Students combine major study in a liberal arts or sciences area with a co-major in early childhood education and childhood education. The program is designed to blend on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, culminating in full-time student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the program. The program conforms to the standards and guidelines of the New York State Learning Standards for Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education.

Program Requirements: BA Dual Certification Program in Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education and a Liberal Arts Co-major


Students select from these majors that lead to a BA degree program  from Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  or the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science . After completing 45 semester hours of college coursework, students choose the dual certification program as a co-major. Hofstra’s undergraduate dual certification program is a New York state-registered program. Students who successfully complete the program and pass all New York State certification requirements will qualify for New York State initial teaching certification.

Admission Requirements


During the second semester of the sophomore year (after completing 45 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences college course work), students may apply for admission to the School of Education through the Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology  in Hagedorn Hall. For program admissions policies, see Admission Requirements for Teacher Education Programs .

Required Course Work


The Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology  strongly recommends emphasis on course work dealing with multicultural issues and social contexts of education. In order to ensure that prospective teachers have a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, all students in the BA degree programs with co-majors in the dual certification program must complete course work from each of the content areas below. When programs are planned carefully, these requirements may be satisfied while completing the Hofstra Distribution. Specific courses and minimum credits required for prospective teachers are indicated.

Whereas satisfaction of the Hofstra Distribution may require more credits in the indicated areas than those stipulated below, the designated courses within the following areas must be included in the BA degree program of the dual certification co-major.

Areas to be included in partial fulfillment of the Hofstra Distribution and New York State Education Department requirements:

Artistic Expression/Humanities - Semester Hours: 3


Any LT or AA course listed under the Humanities Division of the Hofstra distribution .

Communication - Semester Hours: 3


Information Retrieval - Semester Hours: 0-3


Historical/Social Science Concepts - Semester Hours: 6


Include at least one HIST course listed under the Social Science Division of the Hofstra distribution  (prerequisite to ELED 126A ).

World Language - Semester Hours: 0-9


Completion of 3 s.h. in a language other than English, or placement at level 2 or above. American Sign Language, ASL 001 , may be used to satisfy this requirement but does not carry liberal arts credit.

Scientific Processes - Semester Hours: 3


Any NS course listed under the Natural Sciences  Division of the Hofstra distribution.
 

Mathematical Processes - Semester Hours: 3


Any MATH courses listed under the Mathematics/Computer Science division of the Hofstra distribution .

Written Analysis and Expression - Semester Hours: 6


WSC 001 , 002  and a passing score on the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Examination (Students transferring from other institutions must pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam).
 

Transfer Students


Transfer students must plan their courses of study carefully with an academic adviser to assess that their progress will fulfill both the University and the New York State Education Department requirements.

Pedagogical Core Requirements


Program Requirements:


Students receiving a grade lower than C- in a professional education course must repeat the course and receive a grade of C- or higher in order to remain in the program.

Student Teaching Prerequisites


Program Phases 1 and 2 must be completed prior to student teaching. Application forms for student teaching are available in the Office of Field Placement and are due by May 1 for the succeeding spring semester and February 15 for the succeeding fall semester. Admission criteria for student teaching are as follows:

  1. a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on overall course work;
  2. a GPA of 2.5 of higher in liberal arts and sciences course work;
  3. a grade of C- or higher in each ELED course completed;
  4. no unresolved INC grades in professional education course work.
     

Graduation Requirements


  1. Completion of all graduation requirements for the appropriate BA degree in the liberal arts and sciences.
  2. Completion of all course requirements for the co-major in the dual certification program.
  3. Successful completion of at least 134 semester hours. (Military Science courses may not be counted toward this total semester hour requirement.)
  4. Completion of at least 93 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences coursework. School of Education courses that carry liberal arts credit may be counted toward this requirement.
  5. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in overall coursework.
  6. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in liberal arts and sciences coursework.
  7. Professional education coursework GPA of 2.75.
  8. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education coursework and professional accomplishments.
  9. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.

Teacher Certification Requirements


Upon the successful completion of a Hofstra state-approved teacher education program, students are eligible for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. A request for recommendation must be submitted to the School of Education Dean’s Office during the semester in which the student is graduating. There will be opportunities to attend a certification workshop during the student’s final semester, to receive all the necessary information regarding applying for certification. Individuals who apply directly to New York state for certification are responsible for learning about and satisfying the certification requirements set by the state. It should be noted that such requirements may differ from those in Hofstra’s registered programs.

All prospective early childhood (birth-grade 2), childhood (grades 1-6), adolescent (grades 7-12) and special subject, students with disabilities, gifted, TESOL, bilingual, literacy, speech and language disabilities teachers, as well as school leadership candidates, are required to pass the New York State Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc., including the Educating All Students Test (EAS) and Content Specialty Test(s) (CST). Prospective School Leaders will be required to take the appropriate leadership exams. For more information regarding state testing, please contact the School of Education at 516-463-5747 or visit www.nystce.nesinc.com.

In addition to fulfilling the required courses of study, the Commissioner’s Regulations mandate that all prospective teachers, pupil personnel, and education leaders receive instructions regarding:

  1. Identification of Child Abuse and Maltreatment
  2. Fire and Arson Prevention
  3. School Violence Prevention and Intervention
  4. Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Abuse
  5. Highway and School Safety/Prevention of Child Abduction
  6. Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention required under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

New York state legislation also requires all persons seeking certification in special education, speech and language disabilities, or school administrators working in special education, to have training in the area of children with autism.

Hofstra University offers the above-listed educational law seminars through the School of Education Dean’s Office. All of these seminars must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification.

Fingerprinting
Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, the Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE), requires that applicants for teaching and administrative and pupil services personnel certification and prospective employees of covered schools (school districts, charter schools, and BOCES) must undergo fingerprint supported criminal history background check. However, many school districts and institutions across the metropolitan New York area are now requiring that all student teachers, observers, interns, or externs receive fingerprint clearance before they are placed in educational settings that are required for this degree program. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for fingerprint clearance upon acceptance to the program. Fingerprint clearance is also required for New York state certification. For information on how to register to be fingerprinted, visit http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/colleges/soeahs/CESS/cess_requirements_fingerprints.html.